Device for assisting parturition of animals



do 195 K. M. CURYEA DEVICE FOR ASSISTING PARTURITION OF ANIMALS Filed 4, 1954 IVENTOR. mym6u BY 6?? v TT RNEYS Patented Oct. 26, 1954 UNIED STATES ATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR ASSISTING OF ANIMAL PARTURITION S tion of Colorado Application January 4, 1954, Serial No. 402,041

Claims. .1

This invention relates to improvements in devices for assisting delivery of the young animals, and has reference in particular to a device for use in assisting cows .in delivering their calves.

It is well known to stock breeders that heifers frequently have great difficulty in delivering their first calves and frequently die unless they receive assistance. Various devices have been invented and are in common use for assisting parturition of animals and as examples of such devices attention is called to U. S. Patents Nos. 2,522,508 and 2,654,368.

There are other U. S. patents and various French patents showing such devices.

It is the object of this invention to improve and simplify the construction of the devices shown in the patents above identified.

Devices of the type to which this invention relates must be of such construction that they can be readily transported on horseback so as to be available at all times for emergency use and must therefore be made in several parts that can be transported in saddle bags. Such separable structures are shown in the two patents above identified. One of the essential elements of the apparatus is a pulling device which must be effective and of simple and sturdy construction. There is on the market today a pulling device made in accordance with the specification and claims of U. S. Patent 2,506,029 granted to Maasdam May 2, 1950, which is well suited for use in apparatus for the purpose pointed out. This pulling device can be detached from the other parts and employed for a variety of uses. In U. S. patent to Matteson No. 2,654,368 above identified, the pulling device has been shown as of a construction similar to that of the Maasdam patent and is detachably attached to the separable push rods. Since the pulling device is anchored to a laterally extended bracket it subjects the push rods to a strong bending force that is highly objectionable.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a novel means for attaching the pulling device to the end of the push rod in such a way that its frame will be in axial alignment with the rod and which therefore will produce only a minimum of bending force when the apparatus is in use.

Another object is to provide a simple means for connecting the pulling device to the push rod that permits the pulling device to be readily disconnected to facilitate transportation and so that it can be used for other pulling purposes such as stretching wire fence material, etc.

(Cl. l28--352) Having thus in a general way described the uses to which the invention can be put and its objects, the invention will now be described in detail, for which purposes reference will be had to the drawings which form part of this application and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the device in use;

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the puller and the connection between it and the push rod;

Figure 3 is a view looking downwardly in the direction of arrow 3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of that part of the push rod with which the puller is directly engaged;

Figure 5 is a section taken on lines 55, Figures 2 and 3 and,

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the breeching in detached position.

The device consists of a breeching plate It which is broadly U-shaped, having a substantially straight portion and ends that are slightly outwardly divergent. Each end has a slot H through which the breeching support strap 12 extends. The breeching strap is preferably double and has one end provided with a buckle l3 for purpose of adjustment. Attached to the rear surface of the breeching plate is a socket I l that has one end welded to the breeching plate and is provided with a set screw I5 for effecting attachment with the forward end of the push rod section I 8 whose rear end extends into the socket ll that is welded to the forward end of push rod section l8. Welded to the rear end of rod section I8 is a connector element having rearwardly flaring sides l9 whose lower edges are joined by a bottom 20. Sides l9 terminate in parallel ends 2i that project rearwardly beyond the bottob as shown in Figure 4.

The puller that has been shown as combined with the pusher rod is shown as constructed in accordance with the Maasdam patent above identiiied, and consists of a frame having spaced parallel sides 2| between which is mounted for rotation on pivot 22 a drum or spool 23 to which one end of cable 24 is connected and about which it is wound. Sides 2| have forwardly and rearwardly converging ends as shown in Figure 3. Straddling the front end of the frame is a U- shaped loop 24' that is held in place by a rivet 25. The rear end of the frame terminates in a notch between the two parts of the swivel member 26 which is held in place by a rivet 21. One side of drum 23 has its peripheral edge provided with ratchet teeth 28, that are engaged by pawl 3 29 carried by the rockable handle 30. A latching pawl 3| is pivotally attached to the frame and serves to hold the drum from reverse rotation when the handle is turned clockwise to get a new hold on the ratchet teeth. Attached to the front end of cable 24 is an obstetrical chain 32 whose ends are attached by suitable means to the protruding front legs of the emerging calf.

The puller is attached to the push rods as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The front triangular end of the frame is positioned between side l9 and rests on bottom 20 which has a bolt hole 33. A bolt 34 has one end provided with a head 35 so as to form a T-bolt. The head rests on the upper edges of the frame member of the puller and the threaded end of the bolt projects through bottom 20 and is provided with a wing nut 36, which, when tightened, firmly interconnects the puller and the push rod, which then form the operative assembly shown in Figure 1.

It is evident that the apparatus described can exert a powerful pull on the emerging calf and frequently saves the life of the cow and also that of the calf.

When the device is not in use nut 36 is loosened and head 35 is turned 90 degrees, whereupon the puller can be separated from the push rod and employed for other purposes such as stretching Wires, etc.

It has been pointed out above that there is nothing novel in the puller itself or the use to which it is put because similar pullers have been used with push rods to effect a similar result or function. The novelty in this case resides in the manner in which the puller is attached to the push rod to form with it an assembly that can be easily handled, readily assembled and disassembled and which. produces only comparatively small forces that tend to bend the push rod. Such bending forces can be further reduced by bringing the drum down farther so as to bring the cable into closer parallel relation with the push rod.

Attention is called to the fact that when the parts are in operative position they are quite rigidly interconnected and can therefore be conveniently manipulated. Particular attention is called to the simple and effective way in which the puller is attached to the push. rod by the use of a single bolt and wing nut.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A device, for assisting animal parturition, of the type having a push rodprovided at its forward end with a breeching. plate for engaging the rump of the animal, a strap attached: to the breeching for supporting it in position on an animal and a puller frame of the type having an open frame formed from two side members removably attached to the rear end of the pusher rod, means for effecting a readily removable connection between the push rod and the puller, said means comprising two rearwardly extending, spaced sides whose front ends are integrally connected with the rear end of the pusher rod, and a bottom member connecting the lower edges of the sides, forming a recess for the reception of the front end of the puller frame, and means for clamping the puller frame to the bottom of the recess comprising a bolt projecting through an opening in the bottom and provided at its upper end with an oblong head of a length to engage the top edges of the opposed side frame members of the puller frame, the lower end of the bolt being threaded and provided with a wing nut.

2. A device inaccordance with claim 1 in which the front end of the puller frame is forwardly tapering and in which the sides of the recess are forwardly convergent to correspond to the sides of the frame.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2 in which a helical compression spring surrounds that portion of the bolt between the bottom and the oblong head. forming means for resiliently holding the bolt head in elevated position.

4. A push rod having means comprising a breeching plate and a support loop at one end for supporting the same from the rump end of an animal, the other end of the push rod having means for effecting a readily separable connection with a puller device having a hollow frame formed from two spaced sides joined at their ends, the connecting means comprising two side members having their front ends integrally joined to the rear end of the pusher bar, projecting rearwardly in spaced relation forming an opening of the size and shape to receive the front end of said puller frame, a bottom member connecting the lower edges of the sides, the bottom having a bolt hole and means for clamping the puller frame in position between the spaced sides and against the bottom, said means comprising a bolt provided at its upper end with an oblong head for engaging and resting on. the upper edges of the puller frame and a nut in threaded engagement with that portion of the bolt below the bottom.

5. A device in accordance with claim 4 in which a helical compression spring surrounds that portion of the bolt between the upper surface of the bottom and the head forming means for normally holding the head in elevated position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,506,029 Maasdam May 2, 1950 2,522,508 Frank Sept. 19, 1950 2,654,368 Matteson Oct. 6, 1953 

